[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 68 (Wednesday, April 9, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17125-17127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-8995]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 97-CE-15-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; SOCATA-Groupe AEROSPATIALE Model TBM
700 Airplanes
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive
(AD) that would apply to certain SOCATA-Groupe AEROSPATIALE (Socata)
Model TBM 700 airplanes that do not have MOD 70-065-32 incorporated.
This proposed AD would require removing the MLG inboard doors and the
door locking control mechanism (MOD 70-065-32). This AD is the result
of an incident on one of the affected airplanes where the MLG inboard
door locking hooks (hinges) corroded, caused the doors to jam, and
prevented the MLG from extending. Analysis has shown that removing the
MLG inboard doors will not cause any airplane safety or performance
problems. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to
prevent failure of the MLG to extend because of corroded MLG inboard
locking hinges, which could result in loss of control of the airplane
during landing operations.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 6, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief
Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE-15-AD, Room 1558, 601 E.
12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments may be inspected at
this location between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday,
holidays excepted.
Service information that applies to the proposed AD may be obtained
from the SOCATA-Groupe AEROSPATIALE, Socata Product Support, Aeroport
Tarbes-Ossun-Lourdes, B P 930, 65009 Tarbes Cedex, France; telephone
62.41.74.26; facsimile 62.41.74.32; or the Product Support Manager,
U.S. AEROSPATIALE, 2701 Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, Texas 75053;
telephone (214) 641-3614; facsimile (214) 641-3527. This information
also may be examined at the Rules Docket at the address below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William J. Timberlake, Program
Officer, Brussels Aircraft Certification Division, FAA, Europe, Africa,
and Middle East Office, c/o American Embassy, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium;
telephone (32 2) 513.38.30; facsimile (32 2) 230.68.99; or Mr. Karl
Schletzbaum, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 1201
Walnut Street, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone (816)
426-6934; facsimile (816) 426-2169.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as
they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments,
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in
light of the comments received.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested
persons. A report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned
with the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Docket No. 97-CE-15-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and
returned to the commenter.
Availability of NPRMs
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request
to the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE-15-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64106.
Discussion
The Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is the
airworthiness authority for France, recently notified the FAA that an
unsafe condition may exist on certain Socata Model TBM 700 airplanes.
The DGAC
[[Page 17126]]
reports incidents where the MLG inboard door locking hooks (hinges)
corroded, caused the doors to jam, and prevented the MLG from
extending. These hinges are exposed to slush/debris while landing in
certain runway environments. This slush/debris can lead to corrosion in
this area or interfere with the ability to extend the MLG. These
conditions, if not detected and corrected, could result in loss of
control of the airplane during landing operations.
Analysis submitted to the FAA reveals that removing the MLG inboard
doors on these Socata Model TBM 700 airplanes will not cause any safety
or performance problems.
Relevant Service Information
Socata has issued Service Bulletin (SB) 70-073, Amdt. 1, dated June
1996, which specifies removing the MLG inboard doors and the door
locking control mechanism (MOD 70-065-32) on Socata Model TBM 700
airplanes. Socata has also issued Technical Instruction of Modification
OPT70 KO59-32, dated December 1995, which includes procedures for
incorporating MOD 70-065-32 on the affected airplanes.
The DGAC classified the above-referenced service information as
mandatory and issued DGAC AD No. 96-037(B)R1, dated July 17, 1996, in
order to assure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes in
France.
The FAA's Determination
This airplane model is manufactured in France and is type
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the DGAC has kept the FAA informed
of the situation described above. The FAA has examined the findings of
the DGAC; reviewed all available information, including the service
information referenced above; and determined that AD action is
necessary for products of this type design that are certificated for
operation in the United States.
Explanation of the Provisions of the Proposed AD
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop in other Socata Model TBM 700 airplanes of the same
type design that are registered in the United States and do not have
MOD 70-065-32 incorporated, the FAA is proposing AD action. The
proposed AD would require removing the MLG inboard doors and the door
locking control mechanism (MOD 70-065-32). Accomplishment of the
proposed actions would be in accordance with the Technical Instruction
of Modification OPT70 KO59-32, dated December 1995, as referenced in
Socata SB Socata 70-073, Amdt. 1, dated June 1996.
Compliance Time of the Proposed AD
The unsafe condition specified in this proposed AD develops
primarily because of slush/debris accumulating in the MLG inboard doors
area while landing in certain runway environments. An airplane
previously operated in these conditions could have already-developed
corrosion, regardless of future airplane operation. For this reason,
the FAA has determined that the compliance time of the proposed AD
should be specified in both hours time-in-service (TIS) and calendar
time (whichever occurs first), in order to assure that corrosion is not
allowed to go undetected over time.
Cost Impact
The FAA estimates that 47 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be
affected by the proposed AD, that it would take approximately 3
workhours per airplane to accomplish the proposed action, and that the
average labor rate is approximately $60 an hour. Socata will provide
parts at no cost to the owners/operators of the affected airplanes.
Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on
U.S. operators is estimated to be $8,460. This figure is based on the
presumption that no owner/operator of the affected airplanes has
accomplished the proposed actions.
Socata has informed the FAA that parts have been distributed to
equip approximately 30 of the affected airplanes. Presuming that each
set of parts is incorporated on an affected airplane, the cost impact
upon U.S. airplane owners/operators would be reduced by $5,400 from
$8,460 to $3,060.
Regulatory Impact
The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct
effects on the States, on the relationship between the national
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, in
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is
not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866;
(2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) if promulgated,
will not have a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a
substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the
Regulatory Flexibility Act. A copy of the draft regulatory evaluation
prepared for this action has been placed in the Rules Docket. A copy of
it may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the location
provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as
follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 USC 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive
(AD) to read as follows:
Socata-Groupe Aerospatiale: Docket No. 97-CE-15-AD.
Applicability: Model TBM 700 airplanes (serial numbers 1 through
109), certificated in any category, that do not have the main
landing gear (MLG) inboard doors and the door locking control
mechanism removed (MOD 70-065-32) in accordance with the Technical
Instruction of Modification OPT70 KO59-32, dated December 1995, as
referenced in Socata SB Socata 70-073, Amdt. 1, dated June 1996.
Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified,
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (d) of
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to
address it.
[[Page 17127]]
Compliance: Required within the next 100 hours time-in-service
after the effective date of this AD or within the next 6 calendar
months after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first,
unless already accomplished.
To prevent failure of the MLG to extend because of corroded MLG
inboard locking hinges, which could result in loss of control of the
airplane during landing operations, accomplish the following:
(a) Remove the MLG inboard doors and the door locking control
mechanism (MOD 70-065-32) in accordance with the Technical
Instruction of Modification OPT70 KO59-32, dated December 1995, as
referenced in Socata SB Socata 70-073, Amdt. 1, dated June 1996.
(b) As of the effective date of this AD, no person may remove
MOD 70-065-32 on any affected airplane, by reinstalling the MLG
inboard doors and the door locking control mechanism.
(c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
(d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be
approved by the Manager, Brussels Aircraft Certification Division,
FAA, Europe, Africa, and Middle East Office, c/o American Embassy,
B-1000 Brussels, Belgium. The request shall be forwarded through an
appropriate FAA Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then
send it to the Manager, Brussels Aircraft Certification Division.
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Brussels Aircraft Certification Division.
(e) All persons affected by this directive may obtain copies of
the document referred to herein upon request to the SOCATA Groupe
AEROSPATIALE, Socata Product Support, Aeroport Tarbes-Ossun-Lourdes,
B P 930, 65009 Tarbes Cedex, France; or the Product Support Manager,
U.S. AEROSPATIALE, 2701 Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, Texas 75053; or
may examine this document at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the
Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106.
Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 2, 1997.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 97-8995 Filed 4-8-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U